ArcView is the most widespread GIS desktop currently in use in the world.  In the new 8.x version, ArcView emerges as the standard client desktop in the ArcGIS family.  ArcView provides numerous powerful functionalities for display, querying, analysis, assimilation and distribution of all kinds of geographical data.  The new 8 version, native on OLE/COM architecture, possesses all the standard functionalities of the previous ArcView GIS 3.x. In addition, significant improvements have been incorporated, such as, tools for  surfing,  data and metadata management,  (ArcCatalog), and on-the-fly projection system management, etc.

Within the context of personalization, Visual Basic for Application (VBA) has been introduced.  This is a support to create and manage  annotations etc.  Editing in CAD form is a completely new area,  rich in new functionalities that  make it possible to work directly on shapefiles and simple elements (lines, polygons and annotations) contained in the personal geodatabase .

ArcEditor
ArcEditor has all the ArcView functionalities but is characterized by its geographical data management functionalities ( vectorial, raster, images, annotations, 3D, CAD, ..)  on multiuser database such as Oracle, SQL Server, Informix and DB2.  ArcEditor has all the tools for managing  concurrent editing on cartographical data (GeoDataBase) with the resulting conflict resolution.

A further characteristic which is of no less importance is that which allows users, with ArcEditor, to create and manage “intelligent geographical objects”, feature linked annotations, quote (dimensioning), and/or associations.  ArcEditor allows the creation and editing of all ESRI vectoral data formats (shapefile, coverage, personal geodatabase, and enterprise geodatabase).


ArcInfo                                                                                                                                                                                       
Within the ArcGIS system, ArcInfo is the enterprise Client that numbers the greatest number of functionalities.  ArcInfor has all the ArcView and ArcEditor features besides the additional sophisticated tools of geoprocessing and data conversion that make it a standard for the GIS market.  ArcInfo provides excellent tools for the creation of data, management, querying, cartographical production and analysis.  There are two product components: ArcInfo Desktop and ArcInfo Workstation.

ArcInfo Desktop works both on WindowsNT and Windows 2000.  Therefore, it includes all the ArcEditor functionalities.  Instead, the ArcInfo Workstation version adds a complete set of very sophisticated functions for the management,  analysis and conversion of data.  Using these tools, it is possible to perform data conversions, generalizations, aggregations, overlay, buffer creations, statistical calculations, etc.  Each of these tools presents  a “user friendly” interface and wizards that guide the user on a step by step basis.  ArcInfo Workstation operates both in Windows (NT/2000) and UNIX and includes a library of hundreds of commands, processed over 20 years on the market and accessible from the classic ArcInfo contexts (ARC, ARCEDIT, ARCPLOT, ARC Macro Language, etc.).    


ArcGIS Server

ArcSDE “Spatial Database Engine”
The ArcSDE gateway has standardized  structures for spatial data storage within a DBMS, reporting the geometric information with the alphanumeric information.  The  ArcSDE geographical data server comprises a series of client and server libraries that interact for the immediate execution of operations, guaranteeing excellent results with a sizeable quantity of data.  Furthermore, it has  administration  command  tools which allow a DBA (Database Administrator) to manage and best configure the geographical and alphanumerical database.  Relating the alphanumerical data with spatial data stored in the database, ArcSDE guarantees such GIS functionalities as: reading, writing and coordinate conversion, Spatial querying, editing, etc.  In particular, ArcSDE is organized according to a Client/Server type architecture, with the possibility of remote node connection both through local network systems and through geographical network systems.  ArcSDE Server is available both on workstation in the UNIX context and on PC with NT operating system .
 

ARCIMS “Internet Map Server”                                                                   
ArcIMS allows cartographical publication on the WEB and introduces the possibility of developing concepts for a distributed GIS.  This is a product that allows users to share their GIS data and/or applications by means of the Internet or Intranet.  One of the chief features of ArcIMS is the direct transfer, “data streaming” of vectorial data from server to client (Web browser).  This possibility permits users to interact their local data  with data published on Intra/Internet and provides access to a wide-range of GIS functionalities through the simple Web browser.

The new software architecture includes a series of solutions ready for use, such as cartographical publication, data querying, and geocodification.  In addition it allows users to use their own GIS functionalities with the aid of SDK (Software Developer Kit) based on Java Beans libraries.  ArcIMS will revolutionize the method of sharing, accessing and using GIS data.  It represents a big step towards creating a distributed GIS architecture.

System requisites for products linked to ARCGIS